Question: Compare and contrast a Sony Walkman with an Apple iPod, and describe the differences in their physical construction, interface design, technology and delivery of sound. Quick sketches are helpful for this analytical process.
When it comes to comparing two innovational and influential technologies, it becomes quite clear of the importance that is placed on analyzing them through certain headings that will aid us in determining the differences between their characteristics and their functions. The four headings that will be examined will investigate physical construction, interface design, technology and the delivery of sound and aid our analysis and comparison of the Sony Walkman and the Apple iPod.
Physically, both the Walkman and iPod were truly revolutionary and functional consumer products that targeted the demands of customers worldwide. The Walkman and iPod share one trait in that they both physically were constructed for size, mobility and ease of use. This is evident in the layout and structure of both music players and how engineers and developers chose to design their products.
The Walkman was first developed in 1979 by Nabutoshi Kihara an audio developer working with Sony. The Walkman was simply developed and structured with the consumer in mind. This is evident in the size of the Walkman which fit comfortably in the hands of the listener. By choosing to place a small amount of button and controls on the exterior of the music player, the designers were able to economize on the amount of space needed for other instruments such as speakers and the cassette holder. In addition to the structure of the Walkman, Sony also emphasized the importance of sound quality and the overall customer experience. Choosing to not only focus on the Walkman itself, the company put great importance on the headphones used and developed their own brand of headsets to be packaged with their Walkmans. Throughout the life period of the Sony Walkman, many different versions were developed with the same structural focus of size, mobility and ease of use. In later years Sony would utilize the Walkman to add features such as radio, quality control (bass) and in later years, video capability. All these additional features did have an effect on the how the walkman was structured and for the majority of these features, Sony chose to come up with innovative ways to incorporate these different functions and characteristics without jeopardizing the focus of a small mobile device.
Similarly, the iPod has had a similar influence on the music playing devices of its time. Unlike the Walkman, the iPod was created in a time where music was able to be shared and stored on computers and through different file types. While the Walkman relied heavily on cassette players and tapes, the iPod focused primarily on Mp3 files. By using its own software (iTunes), Apple was able to capture a market share from its competitors such as Sony, who had been experiencing some success with their CD playing music players. Instead of using CDs to store the music files, Apple chose to place the technology required to allow users to store their music directly on to the iPod itself. The Apple iPod also focused on reducing the number of buttons on most music players and chose to incorporate a circular design which gave users the ability to control the volume, change songs, select different icons and turn on and off the devices. This simple but efficient design was attractive to many of users who wanted a cosmetically looking device that could be fashionably accessorized. In addition, Apple also designed its iPods with a LCD screen which would later on be utilized for its videos and clip arts added through iTunes. Similar to Sony, Apple chose to develop its own headphones to package with its iPods and has become internationally recognized for their white two piece headphones. By taking a similar approach to Sony’s Walkman, Apple utilized a new technology and over time, quickly added new features and continued the trend of focusing on size, mobility and ease of use. http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/98/WalkmanTPS-L2.jpg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IPod
- By Amir Alhassani
994623975
LAB 2
1. Under each of the six categories, shelter, health, water, education, energy and transport, choose one project which interests you. For each category, describe how it is designed to alleviate poverty for the project's stakeholders. (6 categories x 1 paragraph = 6 paragraphs)
Shelter: SOLAR HOME LIGHTING SYSTEM
When looking at the necessities of human life, one common stance by numerous ideologies is the importance of a shelter. Shelter serves several functions for those fortunate to have a shelter to reside in. One such function is the ability of a shelter to shield those inside it from the elements that exist outside its doors. Weather, environment and sociocultural conditions, are things that many of us take for granted. However, for someone who is without shelter; these can be very difficult circumstances to live in. As a result, the solution that I felt would benefit those less fortunate is the Solar Home Lighting System. The Solar Home Lighting System, a wireless solar power system originally designed for rural and peri-urban customers in India, enables families to improve their productivity by allowing them to pursue income-generating activities in the evening while their children can have better light for studying (Design for the other 90%). In addition to providing electrical power for those fortunate enough to have a solar home system, it also provides lighting for their shelters and improves on both living conditions and safety. This reduces the need for accessories such as candles, heaters, furnishes and other potentially dangerous appliances commonly used in rural third world countries.
Health: LIFESTRAW
Arguably, most importance when it comes to aiding those in need is placed directly onto health care and prevention of common diseases and life threatening illnesses. For many people in need of healthcare, this can truly be an issue as hospitals in many of these third world countries are miles and miles away from towns and those individuals who desperately need them. In addition, many of these individuals are desperate to survive in harsh climates and living conditions and contract many diseases unknowingly through their drinking water, and food. The Lifestraw, a personal mobile water-purification tool is designed to turn any surface water into drinking water. This water filtration device can help prevent many of these common bacteria from entering their bodies and making many of them and their children ill or placing them in life threatening conditions. Such a simple solution can aid these families in reducing the need to travel back and forth to hospitals, and purchase and rely on medicines to stay healthy. The Lifestraw in addition can also help educate many residents of the importance of water purification and cleanliness, so as to prevent many avoidable diseases. Once people become aware of such problems, additional steps can be taken to ensure that drinking water remains quarantined in safe places and not contaminated through improper use.
Water: CERAMIC WATER FILTER
As mentioned, Water is a very important aspect of survival. Without water, the human body cannot function properly and cannot survive. Similar to the Lifestraw, the Ceramic water filter serves quite an important function for those in less fortunate enough to have drinkable tape water. Unlike many of us who live in developed nations, those who genuinely benefit from such inventions are those who are forced to travel long distances, and find water in remote locations; where water quality might not necessarily be drinkable. As a result, many of these people require water filtration devices such as the ceramic water filter the Ceramic Water Filter combines the filtration capability of ceramic material with the anti-bacteriological qualities of colloidal silver. This filter has basic, yet impressive, impact on the lives of the rural poor, dramatically decreasing diarrhea, days of school or work missed due to illness, and medical expenses (Design for the other 90%). These filters also serve the function of being water storage devices for their houses and ensure that the water does not get contaminated by those living in that shelter. By reducing potential expenses, this also aids the families who utilize such a device by allowing them to use that money elsewhere, such as for food/education/transportation.
Education: ONE LAPTOP PER CHILD
“You can give a man fish, and he’ll have food to eat that day. But you can teach a man to fish, and he’ll never go hungry again.” Education, is an important tool in itself in that it provides those fortunate enough to able to go to schools to learn and broaden their knowledge of their surroundings, the world and of different situations. The one laptop per child project is designed to do just that, and is targeting to reduce the digital divide between developed nations and many third world countries. The One Laptop per Child, or $100 laptop, is a laptop computer designed as an educational tool to bring learning, information, and communication to children in developing countries. Governments purchase the laptops directly and distribute them to their schools to be used the children in schools. Similar to how cell phones were largely imported and utilized by many people in these regions as a result of the economic and construction costs, these laptops serve a function by allowing the youth of these regions to become trained and educated with similar technologies as those in more developed countries. In addition, these computers also reduce some of the digital divide that has naturally developed from a lack of technological advancements and can be improved upon by continuous efforts and similar projects as the one laptop per child project. With constant donations, and fundraising efforts, many of these laptops cost close to nothing and can truly benefit the children that utilize them by aiding in their education and overall growth.
Energy: STARSIGHT
Because many developing countries lack the resources and capital to maintain and develop efficient sources of energy, many essentials are often unattainable or lack the quality that is important to the lively hood of those living in that nation. For many countries, energy is constantly looked at as a force that is required for many functions, and one that requires a lot of resources to produce. However, this is not always the case. By utilizing the power of the sun, certain technology such Startsight, utilizes solar panels to energies its street lights to illuminate the streets and roads. This simple feature increases safety in these areas by making their roads drivable at night, and also reduces the chances of collisions between drivers and anything that might cross the roads. In addition to serving as lights, and being self powered. The Starsight towers also function as solar-powered Internet access in a wireless configuration, bypassing conventional power and telephone grids. StarSight provides a more secure environment, connectivity for building an emerging economy, and emergency communication and lighting for areas hit by disaster. These functions add to the usefulness of such technology in that it reduces costs associated with lighting up the roads and powering them through electricity. By adding the wireless internet function, developers also have shown that these tools can also be used to help improve on existing living conditions and provide users with wireless connections that can be used for business, schools or even personal home computers.
Transport: Q DRUM
The last category to examine is potentially one of the most under estimated aspect of human survival. Without transportation, many individuals are left without work, education, healthcare, and even drinking water. For many living in rural areas, separated by large distances from the closest possible drinking well, or water source; this can be a huge and detrimental problem. Energy and time must be used by the residents to travel to these remote areas and collect sufficient amounts of water for drinking, cleaning, and other functions must be collected and brought back to their homes. For many, this can be a very difficult problem to solve, as a result of how the water must be transported from one location to the other. Through transportation tools such as the Q-Drum, this type of problem can be easily resolved. BY producing a circular barrel to be dragged along by a rope or harness, this type of technology uses the mobility of a wheel shaped object to be pulled from one area to the other. Such a type of design, allows small children to be able to carry amounts of water that would not otherwise be possible. By collecting the water in these barrels and rolling them back to their home, many of these individuals reduce their travel time, and also reduce the amount of trips needed back and forth. Because the barrels are relatively big in size (14” h x 19.5” diameter) , The individual can retrieve a lot of water and keep it stored for longer periods of time. This can improve living conditions by giving that individual more time, to focus on work and caring for his/her families.
2. How does stakeholder analysis enable sustainable and socially responsible design? (1 paragraph)
Understanding who your stakeholders are and what they need is something is very important when designing a sociably responsible device. This is largely as a result of the knowledge that they already have about most of these issues and problems. By learning about what it is that they require, and what types of solutions they have developed to combat such dilemmas, a designer can come up with innovative and revolutionary ways to come up with a solution that can help all those involved. In addition to acquiring knowledge from the people, analyzing the stakeholders and their living conditions, can also provide designers with an idea of what types of solutions that cannot work in such living conditions. For example, if a country lacks electrical capabilities; it might be the best solution to develop a product that focuses primarily on electrical power to function properly. This type of analysis can also prove to be beneficial, but bringing awareness to other issues that might otherwise be ignored, and introduce the idea of potentially incorporating a number of ideas to solve more than one problem (ex. Starsight). By understanding and conducting stakeholder analysis, designers can develop and produce sustainable and socially responsible products that can improve on living conditions and provide people with the resources needed to live more comfortable, safe and humane lives.
3. List five characteristics of socially responsible product design. (List of 5 points)
Socially Responsible product design generally focuses on products that are mobile, self-sufficient and inexpensive.
Products are designed with the stakeholder in mind, and are designed to be used with the resources that are available for those stakeholders.
In addition to solving an immediate problem, many socially responsible product designs are implemented in a manner so as to improve the overall living conditions of everyone involved.
Many products are designed so as to solve numerous problems for the user
Socially responsible products aim to improve on shelter, health, water, education, energy, and transportation conditions.
By; Amir Alhassani
994623975
LAB 3
In three paragraphs, describe the role of Jan Chipchase in defining the role of cellphones in the developing world for Nokia, and the benefits of analyzing and defining their use in different cultures as part of their market expansion. It appears as though Nokia is making a full attempt at becoming the worlds’ premier cell phone provider. To do so, it will have to go beyond the range of just the European, North American, and the Asian markets. The biggest tool they have in doing so; Jan Chipchase. Chipchase, an ethnographer, is making his way throughout the smallest areas of the world in order to create a new target audience for Nokia. Interacting with barbers in Vietnam and farmers in India, Chipchase is providing hands on information to Nokia, something that is very valuable to the cell phone manufacturer.
With the vast amount of cell phone producers in today’s world, a niche seems to be an absolute must in order to survive. While Nokia will continue to use the premier methods of distribution in advanced markets, the new focus point upon third world countries will surely provide them with the edge that they need. Market share is one of the most competitive assets for any firm, and there is no better way to gain upon that market share than to acquire 100% of a new market. Being a step ahead with Chipchase already in the field provides Nokia with the lead that they need going forward.
The study on different cultures will benefits both parties involved. While Jan Chipchase is able to pick up valuable information that he can then report to Nokia helping them develop a better product for that market. In doing so, the individuals being studied are able to receive a product which is better suited to their needs. Lastly, the information gathered by Nokia is not only beneficial to them now, but can be referred to later on for products in the future.
How does the idea of microfinance support two of the key themes of sustainability as outlined in the diagram posted on your class wiki '5 Key Themes for Sustainability'? Write one paragraph for each of your chosen themes. Microfinance Ensuring a Strong, Healthy, and Just Society
“Give a man a fish; you have fed him for today. Teach a man to fish; and you have fed him for a lifetime”. By providing the people of the poorer nations the funds to grow and become businesses is by far the best way to help them. This not only helps them physically, but the intangible benefits are just as superior. Entrepreneurial skills and leadership skills will allow them to grow their dreams which in turn will help the others around them.
Achieving a Sustainable Economy
By achieving a sustainable economy, countries are able to produce products and services that can be continuously reproduced and reused in a manner that is not only financial efficient but also economically friendly. Through different techniques, poor countries with limited resources can produce a large number of products, with a limited impact on the environment in which they live in, but yet at the same time have a large impact on their living conditions and life. Through, the practice of sustainability a country can produce whatever it may be that they do to best and specialize in that industry (i.e. China and Consumer goods) and become the best at it, while at the same time not damaging its resources and economy in the process.
Lab 4
Write three paragraphs on how Annie Leonard defines the system of the 'materials economy' and describes its interactions.
According to Annie Leonard, there are five stages of the materials economy that have a negative side on the world economy and the environment. Ms. Leonard identifies Extraction, Production, Distribution, Consumption and Disposal as the five states that each has a part in depleting the world’s natural resources and harming its inhabitants. She goes on to claim that a large part of the problem is placed on the us the consumers who no longer seek to need based products and now are focused largely on acquiring want based products that require high amounts of resources and energy to produce.
Ms. Leonard also examined the corporations that produce these products and focus largely on developing more and more consumer products. Governments are now influenced by the corporations rather than voters, mainly because of the large amounts of “donations” and taxes paid by corporations to the government, which ultimately provide the Government to have more money to spend for their own needs. As a result of the corporations influence on governments, many environmentalists and individuals in society have made claims complaining about the amount of corporations that are getting away with all the resource depletion and extraction of natural resources that have taken millions of years to grow. With added toxins produced by production factories, and transportation emission that require the products to be delivered from one location to the next.
However, what are identified as the biggest protagonist for these problems were mainly us the consumers. Because of the value we have placed on consumer goods and the newest and most improved products. By becoming a materialistic society, we have allowed corporations to decide how we should think and what products we absolutely need to buy to be able to fit in with everyone else.
Define extraction, production, distribution, consumption and disposal.
Extraction is the process of gathering and removal of natural resources that the world has to offer us. This process can include: blowing up large rock mountains, mining for oil and natural gas, cutting trees and fishing.
Production is the process of taking the natural resources that have been extracted and shaping, molding, developing and creating a product through the mixture of minerals and energy. The desired product is then packaged and prepared for delivery.
Distribution is the process that takes the produced product and provides the transportation and delivery of that product to the retail stores and in some cases, the warehouses that store the company’s other products.
Consumptionis the process of having the product delivered and used by the consumers. We use these goods that we purchase from the distributors, who get the products from the producers, which make them by means of extraction.
Disposal is the process of getting rid of the consumed good or the packaging the product was delivered in. This part of the process has one of the largest impacts on the environment as many of the products and packaging ends up in landfills where they will remain for 100s of years. With more consumer goods being produced to meet our wants, the more garbage will be disposed of and ultimately damaging the condition of the environment.
How does her Flash presentation effectively organize the categories comprising 'the materials economy' in its interface design? Ms. Leonard used her flash presentation to illustrate through an interactive method; the importance of preserving the world’s natural resources and the material need to produce our products. By identifying the players in the material’s economy and organizing the stages from start to finish, Ms. Leonard educated her viewers of the process involved in producing their products. The Flash presentation was incredibly interactive and encouraged user interaction and provided links and other sources of information in the field of prevention of in proper use of materials.
Using tabs and highlighting the stage that was being discussed by Ms. Leonard made it clear and easy enough to follow for the viewers who were able to carry on with the presentation from one stage to the next. In addition, the flash presentation used humor and basic cartooning to illustrate the main points identified and told a story in the process which made the presentation interesting and easy to follow.
Ultimately, Ms. Leonard presentation was very well done and accurately achieved the point of bringing awareness to the problems and issues faced by our world today. The presentation was very educational and extremely interactive which allowed the users to participate in the process and learn at the same time. This was very useful in keeping the viewers interested and involved. Overall, a very good presentation and a great use of flash and cartooning.
LAB 6
Write four paragraphs defining the term 'bodystorming'.
According to Ann Fairbrother, Bodystorming is a participatory method of demonstrating or developing ideas in a physical setting. Through Teams, it is encouraged to partake in physical interactions where users use props and objects to give a sense of real life, and analyze certain functions to find ways of improving them.
The concept behind bodystorming is emphasis placed on team participation. In the example looked by the class on the Betacup solution for recycled cups. A group of users tried to resolve the issue by using role playing and group discussions to find possible solutions the harmful effect of disposing of cups with wax coating that make them non-recyclable. The role playing was done in front of a large group of viewers and there was questioning and feedback during and after the presentation. This form of participation allowed the group to pause and stop their presentation and keep everyone involved while still getting the point across to the audience. Through dialogue, the video shows how the group was able to illustrate how they came to producing the Betacup program and how it might have an effect on companies such as Starbucks.
As mentioned above, Bodystorming requires the involvement of everyone to participate and encourages them to analyze the task through dialogue to better understand the problem and to come up with quick and easy solutions that exist presently. With proper use of bodystorming, a team can come up with a list of all the problems that they see with a product and determine different ways that they would themselves tyr and solve the problem. Simple solutions are always encouraged and everyone is asked to give an idea, even if they feel that it might not have anything to do with the project. Because this open approach is used so positively, group members can contribute to the group and even come up with some solutions that might resolve a number of problems in the process. (i.e. Betacup coming up with a quick line up that uses the re-usable cup to make your order and to process the billing function on a credit card or tab).
This method can also be used to solve many other problems such as coming up with products that resolve issues for able body testers. In the videos seen in class, we were able to able bodied individuals attempt to perform certain tasks and put themselves in situations where other users with various disabilities might find difficult to accomplish with their hindered physical limitations. Through their testing and different role playing, the team was able to get a view of the daily life of a disabled individual. This helped them become better aware and understand the challenges faced by many of these people and ultimately come up with ways where they would be required to use their other senses to complete their tasks.
Describe an issue that you would like to use bodystorming to research, analyze and investigate, and describe how you would develop a Case Theatre scenario to do so.
The issue that I would like to use bodystorming to research, analyze and investigate would be the purchase and reliance for plastic water bottles. Over the last decade, we have become dependant on purchasing plastic water bottles and consuming them on a large scale rate. The problem however is in the environmental footprint that has been placed on the world by having products that are not recyclable and also products that are not decomposable in landfills. Such a product has had such a large impact on our world, and yet in countries such as Canada where we are fortunate enough to have clean running tap water, we do not take advantage of this service and instead spend large amounts of money on purchasing bottled water.
By looking at who is purchasing these water bottles and if they are willing to use re-usable water containers and metal bottles, and what is stopping them from making the shift to tap water. Once a test audience is conducted, we can better understand why people are so reluctant to drink tap water, and if plastic water bottles are necessarily need anymore. In addition, having a test to gain such knowledge can also assist in getting politicians to see the impact that such a product is having on world and how many people are willing to change in order to help save the world.
If I were to create a Case Theatre Scenario, I would form a group of people who currently use plastic water bottles and a group of people that choose to drink from tap water. I would have choose my audience by asking both students, faculty and politicians to participate in these tests and to join in the discussions. Once I have created a large amount of people, I can begin by asking them to taste test two samples of water and to determine which water from a plastic bottle is and which is tap water. By doing such an investigation, it can bring awareness to the lack of difference from tap water and bottled water, and ultimately show to everyone that we can create a solution to this problem by simply choosing to use re-usable bottles and drinking tap water.
In the live demonstration, I would show to the participants that there is no difference in drinking tap water or bottled water, in that both provide us with the same nutrients and quench our thirst. However, I would also like to demonstrate the impact that plastic bottles have on the environment, by showing pictures and evidence of the impact of such a product.
Once They have seen the negative impact on such a product, I will attempt to switch the views of the discussion and show how using tap water and re-usable bottles have a much less damaging impact on the environment. By showing evidence of improved environmental conditions and the ability to use the products over and over again, we will demonstrate that ultimately users save the world and their own money at the same time. This should give them more incentive to switch over and become participants of saving the world in other ways.
Ultimately, this type of demonstration can only impact so many people and so if at all possible, I would attempt to upscale the overall demonstration so as to inform others around the country and world of the importance of keeping the environment healthy and safe. By choosing to perform future demonstrations and developing adds to be seen by the masses, one can hope to change the overall impact placed by each of us who use plastic water bottles and also become aware of what can be done to solve the problem.
Lab 7:
Write four paragraphs to define the term 'physical computing'
Physical computing allows the use of different technologies (both hardware and software) to be used together to produce a product that allows the users to interact with the devices and have the device interact with the real world. This has been accomplished for industrial settings (McDonalds- cash registers) and is now finding its way onto the consumer markets (iPhone). What makes this type of technology a part of physical computing is the ability to use components such as touch screen, accelerometers and interactive technology is that it allows the user to intermingle with the technology to perform a task or to receive the admired feedback from which you seek to receive form the device.
Physical computing uses technology which allows the user to become “one” with the system, which by itself does not perform any tasks. With physical computing, there is a requirement for the computer to interact with the user to accomplish its tasks, and the technology in reverse interacts with the user by providing him with the desired task. As a result of this dependence on the user and for the user to be around the physical computer, a close proximity is required. For this reason, most physical computing is designed for mobility and from lightweight material.
The way that physical computing conducts its tasks is through the senses of the user. Through the user’s touch and feel, they are able to communicate with the devices and also perform operations that are not otherwise possible if the user was moving things around or directing the computer. This focus on mobility has allowed devices such as the “sixth sense” (MIT TED) to be created to meet our user needs of having a device that we can carry with us, that can provide us with real time information and perform all sorts of tasks that might have required more than once source of technology previously.
What makes the Sixth sense technology so fascinating is also the ability of the user to use simple hand gestures and motions to perform tasks such as taking pictures, drawing, scanning items, or even surfing the web and finding reviews on books and products found in everyday life. Because this type of technology provides us with so much information, it reduces our needs to carry different devices such as a phone (Sixth sense has phone technology built into it) and we in a sense become a moving computer and source of information.
Write two paragraphs each describing their prototyping methods, and describing what they are enabled to do.
D tools are tools that are reflective physical prototyping. In prototyping, there are 3 stages that must be completed prior to production of the actual product. The first stage is to design the product that you wish to create. The second stage is to analyze the product, what needs to be accomplished, how much is it going to cost and who will use this product. This second stage is important in that it might require you to go back and change your design and improve on its features. The third and last stage is the test stage; at this point you should have a prototype created. With testing, you can determine if there is a need for any improvements, if the product meets your demands and if it is ready for production. D tools, are useful in the sense that they record all the user’s interaction with the prototype through replaying the actions and determining what problems if any; have occurred while testing out the prototype.
Through D tools, designers are able to produce a prototype that is properly structured, with a good set of functions that have been thought out and developed throughout the three stages of prototyping. If a product is produced too quickly and does not follow simple prototyping rules, then it can be produced with many problems and not necessary be a good product that customers will want to buy or use. As a result, it is very important to consider the three stages before even creating a prototype so that you can understand what problems you are trying to fix and how to go about accomplishing your goals.
Exemplar is another prototyping method that performs much differently from the D tool method. Exemplar uses the method of creating a product through the process of demonstration tools that explore and prototype interactions involving sensors. With exemplar, the user who wishes to understand the prototype is responsible to test out the sensors through interactions with the product. Once they have tested and reviewed all of the behaviors and functions, they can go on to the next step of creating the prototype. An example of this type of technology is with the iPhone/iTouch and the accelerometer technology built into those devices. Designers would have had to test out the performance of accelerometers in their iPods through the constant testing and use of sensors to monitor how sensitive each accelerometer was, and if they could be used to perform certain functions (i.e.- turn picture from horizontal to vertical).
Similar to D tool prototyping, exemplar uses the process of testing and evaluating the process. However different the methods are, they do a good job of having the prototype examined and inspected so as to determine what needs to be done to improve the prototype and how to go about achieving that. Overall, they both aid the designers and users in coming up with products that meet our needs, and ultimately perform necessary functions that place pressure on creating a product that is not flawed and useless.
A self cleaning paint created by German Company STO created a specific hydrophobic surface for its paints which ultimately repels any water that comes in contact with the paint and its structure. By studying the lotus leaves, STO was able to create pain that uses water to wash away any dirt left behind on the surface and ultimately allows customers to use the paint on outdoor products without the fear of water damage.
2) Avian Elements:
Japan’s infamous 500 series Shinkansen bullet train has become globally recognized for its speed, quietness and sleek design. However, what many people are not quite aware of when it comes to the 500 series bullet trains, is that they were designed ultimately to emulate the quietest birds in the world; the owl. In terms of shape and design of the overall look of the train, the Japanese designers chose to use a biomimetic design element by shaping the train’s nose cone, to simulate the shape of a kingfisher’s beak. The shape allows the train to dive to perform with a aerodynamic design that reduces the sonic boom that occurs when the train passes from tunnel back into the open air, reducing noise pollution.
3) Sticking, Naturally:
Portland Oregon based company, Columbia Forest Products was able to come up and produce a none toxic glue that they used on their cabinetry and furniture as well as numerous flooring surfaces. Columbia Forest Products, chose to simulate the secretions that mussels use to cling to surfaces under water and come up with toxin-free glue that us not harmful to those who use it, and is durable and strong enough to be used in everyday life.
4) Echolocation:
UltraCane, created by England based Sound Foresight is a high tech device for those with a visual impairment with the need of a walking cane. The UltraCane uses a sonar like technology similar to the way bats navigate in the dark to prevent collisions. The Cane uses sound waves ahead of the person holding it to help guide him and to provide him with a sense of upcoming objects. The cane gives a tactile warning of an oncoming obstacle’s location through the cane’s handle and ultimately helps the user become more independent and provides him with a safer and easier way to walk around in his environment.
Write three paragraphs defining how, according to Janine Benyus, "the simple, elegant mechanics developed by nature often make sense in a human context, too". (3 paragraphs)
According to Janine Benyus, the most efficient and economically friendly solutions too many of our daily problems, are quiet easily resolved through nature’s solutions and through the different mechanisms that have performed many of these solutions for millions of years. By using biomimicry, Janine suggests that many corporations can seek nature’s solutions to resolve their problems for many of their dilemmas, and ultimately create a product that is sustainable and economically friendly.
Companies such as Volvo, HP, IBM and NASA have all implemented biomimicry to resolve many of their problems and come up with solutions that have improved their products and produce resourceful and efficient solutions. Volvo chose to study the way the locusts swarm was able to fly so close to one another and not crash into one another. By using such research, the company was able to create an anti-collision system based on the same findings as discovered in their research. Similarly, other companies have began to study the millions of different mechanisms that that are a part of our world and have discovered some very simple and achievable solutions to many of our technological and human needs.
Ultimately, using biomimicry as Janine Benyus suggests, is a simple yet often underappreciated practice that often goes overlooked by large corporations that focus primarily on achieving a profit. As a result, many have missed on numerous solutions for many of their production and daily problems and have suffered as a result with high production costs and by creating products that can still be improved through simple natural resolutions. On the other hand, for the companies that chose to implement biomimicry and to study different parts of nature to come up with a large amount of data that ultimately can provide that corporation with a much improved product and also save a lot of the resources that it might have to consume to produce such products. By studying how nature has operated for millions of years, citizens and corporations from across the world, can become more educated and aware of how our world operations and how we can implement some of the same resolution to our troubles.
LAB 9:
According Sylvain Cottong, Service Design is a an emerging field of service design that combines design methods from product design and interaction design for designing the experience of and the interface to services. It is about making what you do more useful, useable and desirable for your users, more efficient, effective and valuable for you; the user. Service design is focused on a human- centered approach that focuses on customer experience and the quality of service encountered as the key value for success.
Service design focuses on touch points that are tangibles. Certain spotlights examined by service designers include, space, objects, people or interactions that make the total experience of using the services. As a result, service designers must be familiar with topics related to Advertising, Web, Mobile phones, PC interfaces, Physical environments, Customer facing staff, Communication and Mailing.
In addition to understanding the different sectors and technology and its respective interfaces; a service designer must also be aware of the concepts that make up these different sectors. These sectors include: Systems, Value, Journeys, People, and Propositions. With each sector comes different expertise and more and more measures that need to be focused on by the service designer. As a result, understanding these sectors will help the designers prepare the most appropriate design for the users and ultimately come up with a product/service that is proportionately and appropriate for the target market.
Ultimately, Service Design is important because of all the benefits it provides both the users and the producers of the service. A proper service design should enable ease of use, and result in a higher conversion rate with greater cross selling and up selling opportunities for the retailers. This allows for reduced support costs, greater customer satisfaction and loyalty, and most importantly, improved perception of the brand. In addition, this improved perception can also aid in the customer’s tolerance of the business’s goals, even if they might conflict with their own personal goals.
In conclusion, Sylvain Cottong identified the importance of service design by bring awareness to all the benefits achieved by many businesses on meeting their customer’s needs and wants, while still being efficient and saving costs on their production. With proper utilization of service design, a company can insure good customer service and encourage the purchase of their product/service. This gives businesses influence over users and buyers; that consequently become more willing to pay a premium for products and services that they feel help make their lives easier, more enjoyable and exciting.
Focusing on consumer goods and the newest and most improved products. By becoming a materialistic society, we have allowed corporations to decide how we should think and what products we absolutely need to buy to be able to fit in with everyone else.
Define extraction, production, distribution, consumption and disposal.
Extraction is the process of gathering and removal of natural resources that the world has to offer us. This process can include: blowing up large rock mountains, mining for oil and natural gas, cutting trees and fishing.
Production is the process of taking the natural resources that have been extracted and shaping, molding, developing and creating a product through the mixture of minerals and energy. The desired product is then packaged and prepared for delivery.
Distribution is the process that takes the produced product and provides the transportation and delivery of that product to the retail stores and in some cases, the warehouses that store the company’s other products.
Consumptionis the process of having the product delivered and used by the consumers. We use these goods that we purchase from the distributors, who get the products from the producers, which make them by means of extraction.
Disposal is the process of getting rid of the consumed good or the packaging the product was delivered in. This part of the process has one of the largest impacts on the environment as many of the products and packaging ends up in landfills where they will remain for 100s of years. With more consumer goods being produced to meet our wants, the more garbage will be disposed of and ultimately damaging the condition of the environment.
How does her Flash presentation effectively organize the categories comprising 'the materials economy' in its interface design?
Ms. Leonard used her flash presentation to illustrate through an interactive method; the importance of preserving the world’s natural resources and the material need to produce our products. By identifying the players in the material’s economy and organizing the stages from start to finish, Ms. Leonard educated her viewers of the process involved in producing their products. The Flash presentation was incredibly interactive and encouraged user interaction and provided links and other sources of information in the field of prevention of in proper use of materials.
Using tabs and highlighting the stage that was being discussed by Ms. Leonard made it clear and easy enough to follow for the viewers who were able to carry on with the presentation from one stage to the next. In addition, the flash presentation used humor and basic cartooning to illustrate the main points identified and told a story in the process which made the presentation interesting and easy to follow.
Ultimately, Ms. Leonard presentation was very well done and accurately achieved the point of bringing awareness to the problems and issues faced by our world today. The presentation was very educational and extremely interactive which allowed the users to participate in the process and learn at the same time. This was very useful in keeping the viewers interested and involved. Overall, a very good presentation and a great use of flash and cartooning.
LAB 1
Question: Compare and contrast a Sony Walkman with an Apple iPod, and describe the differences in their physical construction, interface design, technology and delivery of sound. Quick sketches are helpful for this analytical process.
When it comes to comparing two innovational and influential technologies, it becomes quite clear of the importance that is placed on analyzing them through certain headings that will aid us in determining the differences between their characteristics and their functions. The four headings that will be examined will investigate physical construction, interface design, technology and the delivery of sound and aid our analysis and comparison of the Sony Walkman and the Apple iPod.
Physically, both the Walkman and iPod were truly revolutionary and functional consumer products that targeted the demands of customers worldwide. The Walkman and iPod share one trait in that they both physically were constructed for size, mobility and ease of use. This is evident in the layout and structure of both music players and how engineers and developers chose to design their products.
The Walkman was first developed in 1979 by Nabutoshi Kihara an audio developer working with Sony. The Walkman was simply developed and structured with the consumer in mind. This is evident in the size of the Walkman which fit comfortably in the hands of the listener. By choosing to place a small amount of button and controls on the exterior of the music player, the designers were able to economize on the amount of space needed for other instruments such as speakers and the cassette holder. In addition to the structure of the Walkman, Sony also emphasized the importance of sound quality and the overall customer experience. Choosing to not only focus on the Walkman itself, the company put great importance on the headphones used and developed their own brand of headsets to be packaged with their Walkmans. Throughout the life period of the Sony Walkman, many different versions were developed with the same structural focus of size, mobility and ease of use. In later years Sony would utilize the Walkman to add features such as radio, quality control (bass) and in later years, video capability. All these additional features did have an effect on the how the walkman was structured and for the majority of these features, Sony chose to come up with innovative ways to incorporate these different functions and characteristics without jeopardizing the focus of a small mobile device.
Similarly, the iPod has had a similar influence on the music playing devices of its time. Unlike the Walkman, the iPod was created in a time where music was able to be shared and stored on computers and through different file types. While the Walkman relied heavily on cassette players and tapes, the iPod focused primarily on Mp3 files. By using its own software (iTunes), Apple was able to capture a market share from its competitors such as Sony, who had been experiencing some success with their CD playing music players. Instead of using CDs to store the music files, Apple chose to place the technology required to allow users to store their music directly on to the iPod itself. The Apple iPod also focused on reducing the number of buttons on most music players and chose to incorporate a circular design which gave users the ability to control the volume, change songs, select different icons and turn on and off the devices. This simple but efficient design was attractive to many of users who wanted a cosmetically looking device that could be fashionably accessorized. In addition, Apple also designed its iPods with a LCD screen which would later on be utilized for its videos and clip arts added through iTunes. Similar to Sony, Apple chose to develop its own headphones to package with its iPods and has become internationally recognized for their white two piece headphones. By taking a similar approach to Sony’s Walkman, Apple utilized a new technology and over time, quickly added new features and continued the trend of focusing on size, mobility and ease of use.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/98/WalkmanTPS-L2.jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IPod
- By Amir Alhassani
994623975
LAB 2
1. Under each of the six categories, shelter, health, water, education, energy and transport, choose one project which interests you. For each category, describe how it is designed to alleviate poverty for the project's stakeholders. (6 categories x 1 paragraph = 6 paragraphs)
Shelter: SOLAR HOME LIGHTING SYSTEM
When looking at the necessities of human life, one common stance by numerous ideologies is the importance of a shelter. Shelter serves several functions for those fortunate to have a shelter to reside in. One such function is the ability of a shelter to shield those inside it from the elements that exist outside its doors. Weather, environment and sociocultural conditions, are things that many of us take for granted. However, for someone who is without shelter; these can be very difficult circumstances to live in. As a result, the solution that I felt would benefit those less fortunate is the Solar Home Lighting System. The Solar Home Lighting System, a wireless solar power system originally designed for rural and peri-urban customers in India, enables families to improve their productivity by allowing them to pursue income-generating activities in the evening while their children can have better light for studying (Design for the other 90%). In addition to providing electrical power for those fortunate enough to have a solar home system, it also provides lighting for their shelters and improves on both living conditions and safety. This reduces the need for accessories such as candles, heaters, furnishes and other potentially dangerous appliances commonly used in rural third world countries.Health: LIFESTRAW
Arguably, most importance when it comes to aiding those in need is placed directly onto health care and prevention of common diseases and life threatening illnesses. For many people in need of healthcare, this can truly be an issue as hospitals in many of these third world countries are miles and miles away from towns and those individuals who desperately need them. In addition, many of these individuals are desperate to survive in harsh climates and living conditions and contract many diseases unknowingly through their drinking water, and food. The Lifestraw, a personal mobile water-purification tool is designed to turn any surface water into drinking water. This water filtration device can help prevent many of these common bacteria from entering their bodies and making many of them and their children ill or placing them in life threatening conditions. Such a simple solution can aid these families in reducing the need to travel back and forth to hospitals, and purchase and rely on medicines to stay healthy. The Lifestraw in addition can also help educate many residents of the importance of water purification and cleanliness, so as to prevent many avoidable diseases. Once people become aware of such problems, additional steps can be taken to ensure that drinking water remains quarantined in safe places and not contaminated through improper use.Water: CERAMIC WATER FILTER
As mentioned, Water is a very important aspect of survival. Without water, the human body cannot function properly and cannot survive. Similar to the Lifestraw, the Ceramic water filter serves quite an important function for those in less fortunate enough to have drinkable tape water. Unlike many of us who live in developed nations, those who genuinely benefit from such inventions are those who are forced to travel long distances, and find water in remote locations; where water quality might not necessarily be drinkable. As a result, many of these people require water filtration devices such as the ceramic water filter the Ceramic Water Filter combines the filtration capability of ceramic material with the anti-bacteriological qualities of colloidal silver. This filter has basic, yet impressive, impact on the lives of the rural poor, dramatically decreasing diarrhea, days of school or work missed due to illness, and medical expenses (Design for the other 90%). These filters also serve the function of being water storage devices for their houses and ensure that the water does not get contaminated by those living in that shelter. By reducing potential expenses, this also aids the families who utilize such a device by allowing them to use that money elsewhere, such as for food/education/transportation.Education: ONE LAPTOP PER CHILD
“You can give a man fish, and he’ll have food to eat that day. But you can teach a man to fish, and he’ll never go hungry again.” Education, is an important tool in itself in that it provides those fortunate enough to able to go to schools to learn and broaden their knowledge of their surroundings, the world and of different situations. The one laptop per child project is designed to do just that, and is targeting to reduce the digital divide between developed nations and many third world countries. The One Laptop per Child, or $100 laptop, is a laptop computer designed as an educational tool to bring learning, information, and communication to children in developing countries. Governments purchase the laptops directly and distribute them to their schools to be used the children in schools. Similar to how cell phones were largely imported and utilized by many people in these regions as a result of the economic and construction costs, these laptops serve a function by allowing the youth of these regions to become trained and educated with similar technologies as those in more developed countries. In addition, these computers also reduce some of the digital divide that has naturally developed from a lack of technological advancements and can be improved upon by continuous efforts and similar projects as the one laptop per child project. With constant donations, and fundraising efforts, many of these laptops cost close to nothing and can truly benefit the children that utilize them by aiding in their education and overall growth.Energy: STARSIGHT
Because many developing countries lack the resources and capital to maintain and develop efficient sources of energy, many essentials are often unattainable or lack the quality that is important to the lively hood of those living in that nation. For many countries, energy is constantly looked at as a force that is required for many functions, and one that requires a lot of resources to produce. However, this is not always the case. By utilizing the power of the sun, certain technology such Startsight, utilizes solar panels to energies its street lights to illuminate the streets and roads. This simple feature increases safety in these areas by making their roads drivable at night, and also reduces the chances of collisions between drivers and anything that might cross the roads. In addition to serving as lights, and being self powered. The Starsight towers also function as solar-powered Internet access in a wireless configuration, bypassing conventional power and telephone grids. StarSight provides a more secure environment, connectivity for building an emerging economy, and emergency communication and lighting for areas hit by disaster. These functions add to the usefulness of such technology in that it reduces costs associated with lighting up the roads and powering them through electricity. By adding the wireless internet function, developers also have shown that these tools can also be used to help improve on existing living conditions and provide users with wireless connections that can be used for business, schools or even personal home computers.Transport: Q DRUM
The last category to examine is potentially one of the most under estimated aspect of human survival. Without transportation, many individuals are left without work, education, healthcare, and even drinking water. For many living in rural areas, separated by large distances from the closest possible drinking well, or water source; this can be a huge and detrimental problem. Energy and time must be used by the residents to travel to these remote areas and collect sufficient amounts of water for drinking, cleaning, and other functions must be collected and brought back to their homes. For many, this can be a very difficult problem to solve, as a result of how the water must be transported from one location to the other. Through transportation tools such as the Q-Drum, this type of problem can be easily resolved. BY producing a circular barrel to be dragged along by a rope or harness, this type of technology uses the mobility of a wheel shaped object to be pulled from one area to the other. Such a type of design, allows small children to be able to carry amounts of water that would not otherwise be possible. By collecting the water in these barrels and rolling them back to their home, many of these individuals reduce their travel time, and also reduce the amount of trips needed back and forth. Because the barrels are relatively big in size (14” h x 19.5” diameter) , The individual can retrieve a lot of water and keep it stored for longer periods of time. This can improve living conditions by giving that individual more time, to focus on work and caring for his/her families.2. How does stakeholder analysis enable sustainable and socially responsible design? (1 paragraph)
Understanding who your stakeholders are and what they need is something is very important when designing a sociably responsible device. This is largely as a result of the knowledge that they already have about most of these issues and problems. By learning about what it is that they require, and what types of solutions they have developed to combat such dilemmas, a designer can come up with innovative and revolutionary ways to come up with a solution that can help all those involved. In addition to acquiring knowledge from the people, analyzing the stakeholders and their living conditions, can also provide designers with an idea of what types of solutions that cannot work in such living conditions. For example, if a country lacks electrical capabilities; it might be the best solution to develop a product that focuses primarily on electrical power to function properly. This type of analysis can also prove to be beneficial, but bringing awareness to other issues that might otherwise be ignored, and introduce the idea of potentially incorporating a number of ideas to solve more than one problem (ex. Starsight). By understanding and conducting stakeholder analysis, designers can develop and produce sustainable and socially responsible products that can improve on living conditions and provide people with the resources needed to live more comfortable, safe and humane lives.
3. List five characteristics of socially responsible product design. (List of 5 points)
By; Amir Alhassani
994623975
LAB 3
In three paragraphs, describe the role of Jan Chipchase in defining the role of cellphones in the developing world for Nokia, and the benefits of analyzing and defining their use in different cultures as part of their market expansion.
It appears as though Nokia is making a full attempt at becoming the worlds’ premier cell phone provider. To do so, it will have to go beyond the range of just the European, North American, and the Asian markets. The biggest tool they have in doing so; Jan Chipchase. Chipchase, an ethnographer, is making his way throughout the smallest areas of the world in order to create a new target audience for Nokia. Interacting with barbers in Vietnam and farmers in India, Chipchase is providing hands on information to Nokia, something that is very valuable to the cell phone manufacturer.
With the vast amount of cell phone producers in today’s world, a niche seems to be an absolute must in order to survive. While Nokia will continue to use the premier methods of distribution in advanced markets, the new focus point upon third world countries will surely provide them with the edge that they need. Market share is one of the most competitive assets for any firm, and there is no better way to gain upon that market share than to acquire 100% of a new market. Being a step ahead with Chipchase already in the field provides Nokia with the lead that they need going forward.
The study on different cultures will benefits both parties involved. While Jan Chipchase is able to pick up valuable information that he can then report to Nokia helping them develop a better product for that market. In doing so, the individuals being studied are able to receive a product which is better suited to their needs. Lastly, the information gathered by Nokia is not only beneficial to them now, but can be referred to later on for products in the future.
How does the idea of microfinance support two of the key themes of sustainability as outlined in the diagram posted on your class wiki '5 Key Themes for Sustainability'? Write one paragraph for each of your chosen themes.
Microfinance
Ensuring a Strong, Healthy, and Just Society
- “Give a man a fish; you have fed him for today. Teach a man to fish; and you have fed him for a lifetime”. By providing the people of the poorer nations the funds to grow and become businesses is by far the best way to help them. This not only helps them physically, but the intangible benefits are just as superior. Entrepreneurial skills and leadership skills will allow them to grow their dreams which in turn will help the others around them.
Achieving a Sustainable EconomyLab 4
Write three paragraphs on how Annie Leonard defines the system of the 'materials economy' and describes its interactions.According to Annie Leonard, there are five stages of the materials economy that have a negative side on the world economy and the environment. Ms. Leonard identifies Extraction, Production, Distribution, Consumption and Disposal as the five states that each has a part in depleting the world’s natural resources and harming its inhabitants. She goes on to claim that a large part of the problem is placed on the us the consumers who no longer seek to need based products and now are focused largely on acquiring want based products that require high amounts of resources and energy to produce.
Ms. Leonard also examined the corporations that produce these products and focus largely on developing more and more consumer products. Governments are now influenced by the corporations rather than voters, mainly because of the large amounts of “donations” and taxes paid by corporations to the government, which ultimately provide the Government to have more money to spend for their own needs. As a result of the corporations influence on governments, many environmentalists and individuals in society have made claims complaining about the amount of corporations that are getting away with all the resource depletion and extraction of natural resources that have taken millions of years to grow. With added toxins produced by production factories, and transportation emission that require the products to be delivered from one location to the next.
However, what are identified as the biggest protagonist for these problems were mainly us the consumers. Because of the value we have placed on consumer goods and the newest and most improved products. By becoming a materialistic society, we have allowed corporations to decide how we should think and what products we absolutely need to buy to be able to fit in with everyone else.
Define extraction, production, distribution, consumption and disposal.
Extraction is the process of gathering and removal of natural resources that the world has to offer us. This process can include: blowing up large rock mountains, mining for oil and natural gas, cutting trees and fishing.
Production is the process of taking the natural resources that have been extracted and shaping, molding, developing and creating a product through the mixture of minerals and energy. The desired product is then packaged and prepared for delivery.
Distribution is the process that takes the produced product and provides the transportation and delivery of that product to the retail stores and in some cases, the warehouses that store the company’s other products.
Consumption is the process of having the product delivered and used by the consumers. We use these goods that we purchase from the distributors, who get the products from the producers, which make them by means of extraction.
Disposal is the process of getting rid of the consumed good or the packaging the product was delivered in. This part of the process has one of the largest impacts on the environment as many of the products and packaging ends up in landfills where they will remain for 100s of years. With more consumer goods being produced to meet our wants, the more garbage will be disposed of and ultimately damaging the condition of the environment.
How does her Flash presentation effectively organize the categories comprising 'the materials economy' in its interface design?
Ms. Leonard used her flash presentation to illustrate through an interactive method; the importance of preserving the world’s natural resources and the material need to produce our products. By identifying the players in the material’s economy and organizing the stages from start to finish, Ms. Leonard educated her viewers of the process involved in producing their products. The Flash presentation was incredibly interactive and encouraged user interaction and provided links and other sources of information in the field of prevention of in proper use of materials.
Using tabs and highlighting the stage that was being discussed by Ms. Leonard made it clear and easy enough to follow for the viewers who were able to carry on with the presentation from one stage to the next. In addition, the flash presentation used humor and basic cartooning to illustrate the main points identified and told a story in the process which made the presentation interesting and easy to follow.
Ultimately, Ms. Leonard presentation was very well done and accurately achieved the point of bringing awareness to the problems and issues faced by our world today. The presentation was very educational and extremely interactive which allowed the users to participate in the process and learn at the same time. This was very useful in keeping the viewers interested and involved. Overall, a very good presentation and a great use of flash and cartooning.
LAB 6
Write four paragraphs defining the term 'bodystorming'.According to Ann Fairbrother, Bodystorming is a participatory method of demonstrating or developing ideas in a physical setting. Through Teams, it is encouraged to partake in physical interactions where users use props and objects to give a sense of real life, and analyze certain functions to find ways of improving them.
The concept behind bodystorming is emphasis placed on team participation. In the example looked by the class on the Betacup solution for recycled cups. A group of users tried to resolve the issue by using role playing and group discussions to find possible solutions the harmful effect of disposing of cups with wax coating that make them non-recyclable. The role playing was done in front of a large group of viewers and there was questioning and feedback during and after the presentation. This form of participation allowed the group to pause and stop their presentation and keep everyone involved while still getting the point across to the audience. Through dialogue, the video shows how the group was able to illustrate how they came to producing the Betacup program and how it might have an effect on companies such as Starbucks.
As mentioned above, Bodystorming requires the involvement of everyone to participate and encourages them to analyze the task through dialogue to better understand the problem and to come up with quick and easy solutions that exist presently. With proper use of bodystorming, a team can come up with a list of all the problems that they see with a product and determine different ways that they would themselves tyr and solve the problem. Simple solutions are always encouraged and everyone is asked to give an idea, even if they feel that it might not have anything to do with the project. Because this open approach is used so positively, group members can contribute to the group and even come up with some solutions that might resolve a number of problems in the process. (i.e. Betacup coming up with a quick line up that uses the re-usable cup to make your order and to process the billing function on a credit card or tab).
This method can also be used to solve many other problems such as coming up with products that resolve issues for able body testers. In the videos seen in class, we were able to able bodied individuals attempt to perform certain tasks and put themselves in situations where other users with various disabilities might find difficult to accomplish with their hindered physical limitations. Through their testing and different role playing, the team was able to get a view of the daily life of a disabled individual. This helped them become better aware and understand the challenges faced by many of these people and ultimately come up with ways where they would be required to use their other senses to complete their tasks.
Describe an issue that you would like to use bodystorming to research, analyze and investigate, and describe how you would develop a Case Theatre scenario to do so.
The issue that I would like to use bodystorming to research, analyze and investigate would be the purchase and reliance for plastic water bottles. Over the last decade, we have become dependant on purchasing plastic water bottles and consuming them on a large scale rate. The problem however is in the environmental footprint that has been placed on the world by having products that are not recyclable and also products that are not decomposable in landfills. Such a product has had such a large impact on our world, and yet in countries such as Canada where we are fortunate enough to have clean running tap water, we do not take advantage of this service and instead spend large amounts of money on purchasing bottled water.
By looking at who is purchasing these water bottles and if they are willing to use re-usable water containers and metal bottles, and what is stopping them from making the shift to tap water. Once a test audience is conducted, we can better understand why people are so reluctant to drink tap water, and if plastic water bottles are necessarily need anymore. In addition, having a test to gain such knowledge can also assist in getting politicians to see the impact that such a product is having on world and how many people are willing to change in order to help save the world.
If I were to create a Case Theatre Scenario, I would form a group of people who currently use plastic water bottles and a group of people that choose to drink from tap water. I would have choose my audience by asking both students, faculty and politicians to participate in these tests and to join in the discussions. Once I have created a large amount of people, I can begin by asking them to taste test two samples of water and to determine which water from a plastic bottle is and which is tap water. By doing such an investigation, it can bring awareness to the lack of difference from tap water and bottled water, and ultimately show to everyone that we can create a solution to this problem by simply choosing to use re-usable bottles and drinking tap water.
In the live demonstration, I would show to the participants that there is no difference in drinking tap water or bottled water, in that both provide us with the same nutrients and quench our thirst. However, I would also like to demonstrate the impact that plastic bottles have on the environment, by showing pictures and evidence of the impact of such a product.
Once They have seen the negative impact on such a product, I will attempt to switch the views of the discussion and show how using tap water and re-usable bottles have a much less damaging impact on the environment. By showing evidence of improved environmental conditions and the ability to use the products over and over again, we will demonstrate that ultimately users save the world and their own money at the same time. This should give them more incentive to switch over and become participants of saving the world in other ways.
Ultimately, this type of demonstration can only impact so many people and so if at all possible, I would attempt to upscale the overall demonstration so as to inform others around the country and world of the importance of keeping the environment healthy and safe. By choosing to perform future demonstrations and developing adds to be seen by the masses, one can hope to change the overall impact placed by each of us who use plastic water bottles and also become aware of what can be done to solve the problem.
Lab 7:
Write four paragraphs to define the term 'physical computing'
Physical computing allows the use of different technologies (both hardware and software) to be used together to produce a product that allows the users to interact with the devices and have the device interact with the real world. This has been accomplished for industrial settings (McDonalds- cash registers) and is now finding its way onto the consumer markets (iPhone). What makes this type of technology a part of physical computing is the ability to use components such as touch screen, accelerometers and interactive technology is that it allows the user to intermingle with the technology to perform a task or to receive the admired feedback from which you seek to receive form the device.
Physical computing uses technology which allows the user to become “one” with the system, which by itself does not perform any tasks. With physical computing, there is a requirement for the computer to interact with the user to accomplish its tasks, and the technology in reverse interacts with the user by providing him with the desired task. As a result of this dependence on the user and for the user to be around the physical computer, a close proximity is required. For this reason, most physical computing is designed for mobility and from lightweight material.
The way that physical computing conducts its tasks is through the senses of the user. Through the user’s touch and feel, they are able to communicate with the devices and also perform operations that are not otherwise possible if the user was moving things around or directing the computer. This focus on mobility has allowed devices such as the “sixth sense” (MIT TED) to be created to meet our user needs of having a device that we can carry with us, that can provide us with real time information and perform all sorts of tasks that might have required more than once source of technology previously.
What makes the Sixth sense technology so fascinating is also the ability of the user to use simple hand gestures and motions to perform tasks such as taking pictures, drawing, scanning items, or even surfing the web and finding reviews on books and products found in everyday life. Because this type of technology provides us with so much information, it reduces our needs to carry different devices such as a phone (Sixth sense has phone technology built into it) and we in a sense become a moving computer and source of information.
Write two paragraphs each describing their prototyping methods, and describing what they are enabled to do.
D tools are tools that are reflective physical prototyping. In prototyping, there are 3 stages that must be completed prior to production of the actual product. The first stage is to design the product that you wish to create. The second stage is to analyze the product, what needs to be accomplished, how much is it going to cost and who will use this product. This second stage is important in that it might require you to go back and change your design and improve on its features. The third and last stage is the test stage; at this point you should have a prototype created. With testing, you can determine if there is a need for any improvements, if the product meets your demands and if it is ready for production. D tools, are useful in the sense that they record all the user’s interaction with the prototype through replaying the actions and determining what problems if any; have occurred while testing out the prototype.
Through D tools, designers are able to produce a prototype that is properly structured, with a good set of functions that have been thought out and developed throughout the three stages of prototyping. If a product is produced too quickly and does not follow simple prototyping rules, then it can be produced with many problems and not necessary be a good product that customers will want to buy or use. As a result, it is very important to consider the three stages before even creating a prototype so that you can understand what problems you are trying to fix and how to go about accomplishing your goals.
Exemplar is another prototyping method that performs much differently from the D tool method. Exemplar uses the method of creating a product through the process of demonstration tools that explore and prototype interactions involving sensors. With exemplar, the user who wishes to understand the prototype is responsible to test out the sensors through interactions with the product. Once they have tested and reviewed all of the behaviors and functions, they can go on to the next step of creating the prototype. An example of this type of technology is with the iPhone/iTouch and the accelerometer technology built into those devices. Designers would have had to test out the performance of accelerometers in their iPods through the constant testing and use of sensors to monitor how sensitive each accelerometer was, and if they could be used to perform certain functions (i.e.- turn picture from horizontal to vertical).
Similar to D tool prototyping, exemplar uses the process of testing and evaluating the process. However different the methods are, they do a good job of having the prototype examined and inspected so as to determine what needs to be done to improve the prototype and how to go about achieving that. Overall, they both aid the designers and users in coming up with products that meet our needs, and ultimately perform necessary functions that place pressure on creating a product that is not flawed and useless.
LAB 8
Look over examples of her biomimetic principles applied to products in the slideshow located athttp://images.businessweek.com/ss/08/02/0209_green_biomimic/index_01.htm and write a short, one paragraph synopsis for each of your four favourite product designs. (4 paragraphs)
1) Leaving No Trace:
A self cleaning paint created by German Company STO created a specific hydrophobic surface for its paints which ultimately repels any water that comes in contact with the paint and its structure. By studying the lotus leaves, STO was able to create pain that uses water to wash away any dirt left behind on the surface and ultimately allows customers to use the paint on outdoor products without the fear of water damage.
2) Avian Elements:
Japan’s infamous 500 series Shinkansen bullet train has become globally recognized for its speed, quietness and sleek design. However, what many people are not quite aware of when it comes to the 500 series bullet trains, is that they were designed ultimately to emulate the quietest birds in the world; the owl. In terms of shape and design of the overall look of the train, the Japanese designers chose to use a biomimetic design element by shaping the train’s nose cone, to simulate the shape of a kingfisher’s beak. The shape allows the train to dive to perform with a aerodynamic design that reduces the sonic boom that occurs when the train passes from tunnel back into the open air, reducing noise pollution.
3) Sticking, Naturally:
Portland Oregon based company, Columbia Forest Products was able to come up and produce a none toxic glue that they used on their cabinetry and furniture as well as numerous flooring surfaces. Columbia Forest Products, chose to simulate the secretions that mussels use to cling to surfaces under water and come up with toxin-free glue that us not harmful to those who use it, and is durable and strong enough to be used in everyday life.
4) Echolocation:
UltraCane, created by England based Sound Foresight is a high tech device for those with a visual impairment with the need of a walking cane. The UltraCane uses a sonar like technology similar to the way bats navigate in the dark to prevent collisions. The Cane uses sound waves ahead of the person holding it to help guide him and to provide him with a sense of upcoming objects. The cane gives a tactile warning of an oncoming obstacle’s location through the cane’s handle and ultimately helps the user become more independent and provides him with a safer and easier way to walk around in his environment.
Write three paragraphs defining how, according to Janine Benyus, "the simple, elegant mechanics developed by nature often make sense in a human context, too". (3 paragraphs)
According to Janine Benyus, the most efficient and economically friendly solutions too many of our daily problems, are quiet easily resolved through nature’s solutions and through the different mechanisms that have performed many of these solutions for millions of years. By using biomimicry, Janine suggests that many corporations can seek nature’s solutions to resolve their problems for many of their dilemmas, and ultimately create a product that is sustainable and economically friendly.
Companies such as Volvo, HP, IBM and NASA have all implemented biomimicry to resolve many of their problems and come up with solutions that have improved their products and produce resourceful and efficient solutions. Volvo chose to study the way the locusts swarm was able to fly so close to one another and not crash into one another. By using such research, the company was able to create an anti-collision system based on the same findings as discovered in their research. Similarly, other companies have began to study the millions of different mechanisms that that are a part of our world and have discovered some very simple and achievable solutions to many of our technological and human needs.
Ultimately, using biomimicry as Janine Benyus suggests, is a simple yet often underappreciated practice that often goes overlooked by large corporations that focus primarily on achieving a profit. As a result, many have missed on numerous solutions for many of their production and daily problems and have suffered as a result with high production costs and by creating products that can still be improved through simple natural resolutions. On the other hand, for the companies that chose to implement biomimicry and to study different parts of nature to come up with a large amount of data that ultimately can provide that corporation with a much improved product and also save a lot of the resources that it might have to consume to produce such products. By studying how nature has operated for millions of years, citizens and corporations from across the world, can become more educated and aware of how our world operations and how we can implement some of the same resolution to our troubles.
LAB 9:
According Sylvain Cottong, Service Design is a an emerging field of service design that combines design methods from product design and interaction design for designing the experience of and the interface to services. It is about making what you do more useful, useable and desirable for your users, more efficient, effective and valuable for you; the user. Service design is focused on a human- centered approach that focuses on customer experience and the quality of service encountered as the key value for success.Service design focuses on touch points that are tangibles. Certain spotlights examined by service designers include, space, objects, people or interactions that make the total experience of using the services. As a result, service designers must be familiar with topics related to Advertising, Web, Mobile phones, PC interfaces, Physical environments, Customer facing staff, Communication and Mailing.
In addition to understanding the different sectors and technology and its respective interfaces; a service designer must also be aware of the concepts that make up these different sectors. These sectors include: Systems, Value, Journeys, People, and Propositions. With each sector comes different expertise and more and more measures that need to be focused on by the service designer. As a result, understanding these sectors will help the designers prepare the most appropriate design for the users and ultimately come up with a product/service that is proportionately and appropriate for the target market.
Ultimately, Service Design is important because of all the benefits it provides both the users and the producers of the service. A proper service design should enable ease of use, and result in a higher conversion rate with greater cross selling and up selling opportunities for the retailers. This allows for reduced support costs, greater customer satisfaction and loyalty, and most importantly, improved perception of the brand. In addition, this improved perception can also aid in the customer’s tolerance of the business’s goals, even if they might conflict with their own personal goals.
In conclusion, Sylvain Cottong identified the importance of service design by bring awareness to all the benefits achieved by many businesses on meeting their customer’s needs and wants, while still being efficient and saving costs on their production. With proper utilization of service design, a company can insure good customer service and encourage the purchase of their product/service. This gives businesses influence over users and buyers; that consequently become more willing to pay a premium for products and services that they feel help make their lives easier, more enjoyable and exciting.
Focusing on consumer goods and the newest and most improved products. By becoming a materialistic society, we have allowed corporations to decide how we should think and what products we absolutely need to buy to be able to fit in with everyone else.
Define extraction, production, distribution, consumption and disposal.
Extraction is the process of gathering and removal of natural resources that the world has to offer us. This process can include: blowing up large rock mountains, mining for oil and natural gas, cutting trees and fishing.
Production is the process of taking the natural resources that have been extracted and shaping, molding, developing and creating a product through the mixture of minerals and energy. The desired product is then packaged and prepared for delivery.
Distribution is the process that takes the produced product and provides the transportation and delivery of that product to the retail stores and in some cases, the warehouses that store the company’s other products.
Consumption is the process of having the product delivered and used by the consumers. We use these goods that we purchase from the distributors, who get the products from the producers, which make them by means of extraction.
Disposal is the process of getting rid of the consumed good or the packaging the product was delivered in. This part of the process has one of the largest impacts on the environment as many of the products and packaging ends up in landfills where they will remain for 100s of years. With more consumer goods being produced to meet our wants, the more garbage will be disposed of and ultimately damaging the condition of the environment.
How does her Flash presentation effectively organize the categories comprising 'the materials economy' in its interface design?
Ms. Leonard used her flash presentation to illustrate through an interactive method; the importance of preserving the world’s natural resources and the material need to produce our products. By identifying the players in the material’s economy and organizing the stages from start to finish, Ms. Leonard educated her viewers of the process involved in producing their products. The Flash presentation was incredibly interactive and encouraged user interaction and provided links and other sources of information in the field of prevention of in proper use of materials.
Using tabs and highlighting the stage that was being discussed by Ms. Leonard made it clear and easy enough to follow for the viewers who were able to carry on with the presentation from one stage to the next. In addition, the flash presentation used humor and basic cartooning to illustrate the main points identified and told a story in the process which made the presentation interesting and easy to follow.
Ultimately, Ms. Leonard presentation was very well done and accurately achieved the point of bringing awareness to the problems and issues faced by our world today. The presentation was very educational and extremely interactive which allowed the users to participate in the process and learn at the same time. This was very useful in keeping the viewers interested and involved. Overall, a very good presentation and a great use of flash and cartooning.